Apparatus for and method of feeding molten glass



(57 E. HOWARD -APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FEEDING MOLTEN GLASS -5sheets-she et 1 INVENTOR 2% flnnw/ Original Filed July 16, 1917 arch 17,19

I G. E. HOWARD 1,796,929 FEEDING MOIJTEN GLASS Marqh 17, 1931.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF Original Filed July l'6, 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR lwm we/L March 17, 1931. G. E. HOWARD 1,796,929

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FEEDING MOLTEN GLASS Original Filed u y 16,1 917 :5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 9 FIGJO FIG. 11

82 v INVENTOR 23 A KJM Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE GEORGE E. HOWARD, OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO HARTFORD-EMPIRE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ACORPO- RATION OF DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FEEDING MOLTENGLASS Original application filed July 16, 1917, Serial No. 180,795.Divided and this application filed June 9,

1923. Serial My invention relates to apparatus for and methods ofdelivering glass in molten form from a tank furnace or other receptacle,and discharging the glass in proper amounts as to weight and in propershape and condition for fabricating into bottles, sheets and for otherpurposes.

In a general way, apparatus of the invention comprises/two main parts:First, a delivery apparatus for taking the molten glass from a tankfurnace or other supply body and transferring it into a receptacle; andsecond, a receptacle which is so constructed and arranged as to deliverquantities of glass in exact size and of proper weight, shape andcondition for final working.

In function and structure, the apparatus for delivering the molten glassfrom the tank to the receptacle is made similar and closely related tothe structure shown in my Patent No. 1,138,111 of May 4, 1915, and isalso related to my Patent No. 1,138,110. The latter or charge deliveringstructure is also similar to and covers practically the same function asdescribed in my Patent No. 1,315,668 of Sept. 9, 1919.

The objects of my invention are:

1st. To provide a practical means for delivering molten glass in propercondition to be formed into bottles and other objects.

2nd. A more specific object is to do this work in such a way that theapparatus can be used in conjunction with the standard semi-automaticbottle machines and presses which are in general use.

In order to accomplish these objects, especially the second, it isnecessary to so construct and arrange my apparatus that it willduplicate the work of the hand gatherer by mechanical means, so that itwill not be necessary for the manufacturer or user to remodel hispresent machines, or change his methods, which have been developed tomeet the various limitations of speed, etc., which manual work entails.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and arrangement of parts, and in themethod of using thesame, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. lis a vertical section, parts being in elevation, of an apparatusembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail of certain cam members of thedevice; Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, are views in section illustratingvarious stages or steps in the operation of the device; Fig. 8 is a viewof a modification of the parts shown in Figs. 3 to 7; Figs. 9 to 13,inclusive, are views in section illustrating another modification of theapparatus; and Figs. 14 and 15 are views in section showing stillfurther modifications.

In the embodiment of my invention herein selected for illustration, andreferring first to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, 1 indicates the delivery endof the refining-chamber of a glass tank furnace. This may be of more orless ordinary construction, and is provided with an opening 2. Locatedin the outlet is a siphon member 3, which spans the Wall of therefining-chamber and delivers the glass to a pot or receptacle 4. Thepot 4 may be adjustable up and down, and for this purpose has attachedto it three supporting-rods 5 (only two of which are shown in thesectional drawing), which rods are screw-threaded as at (i. The saidrods pass through supporting-beams 7, which in turn are mounted upon aframework 8 having suitable supports 9. The threaded ends of the rods 5are engaged by nuts 10, which have sprocket-wheels secured thereto and asprocket-chain 11 passes from one of said wheels to the other, one ofsaid nuts being provided with a hand-wheel 12, by which all may beoperated to raise and lower the pot 4. This raising and lowering of thepot is similar to the tilting of the pot shown in my Patent No.1,138,111, except that the pot 4 here is raised and lowered verticallyinstead of tilting about an axis, as shown in the patent referred to.

The siphon-tube 3 is provided with a suction connection or passage 13,which in turn communicates with a passage 14 in a suction connection 15,with which communicates a pipe 16 leading to any suitable apparatus forproducing a vacuum. This suction passage serves to start the siphon andmaintain the level of the surface of the glass within it at any desiredpoint, The pot 4 is provided with her,

a rib or dam 17 forming a pocket 18 around the outer leg of the siphonto hold a mass of molten glass around this outer leg of the siphon tofacilitate starting. When the glass a second compartment 19 of the pot.This second compartment 19 is provided with an opening 20.

It is to be noted that there is no gravity flow of glass from therefining-chamber 1 into the pot 4, but the glass is transferred from thechamber to the pot only by the siphon action of the siphon-tube 3. Toreplace the glass flowing from the outer leg of the siphon, glass iselevated or transferred by suction or reduction of atmospheric pressurein the siphon 3 from the tank into the siphon. Whenever this siphonapparatus ceases to operate, there is no further discharge of glass fromthe tank through the siphon into the pot 4, and this is the normalcondition in which the siphon remains during idle periods of theapparatus.

The advantages of this arrangement are many; incidentally, it enables auser to re place the spout-plug 21 in which the outlet here designatedas 20 is formed Without having to freeze the glass in the compartment-19; there being no outflow from the tank, it is practical to install theapparatus without stopping the operation of the tank.

Within the pot 4 is mounted a tube or plunger pipe 22, whichconveniently may pass freely through'an opening 23 in the topof the pot.This pipe is made of clay or other refractory material to obviate thedeleterious action of the molten glass and of the te1nperature withinthe pot. The upper end of the pipe 22 may be enlarged slightly to form ashoulder 24 to receive a clamping means 25 for clamping a metal plate 26over the top of the pipe or tube to which plate is threaded or otherwisesecured a pipe 27, which, througha flexible connection 28, leads to aconnection 29, which is. in communication with a source of vacuum, thevacuum connection being controlled by a valve 30 having an operatinglever 31. A second connection of j the flexible pipe 28 is made at 32with a pipe 33, which is in communication with a suitable source ofpressure. This pressure connection is controlled by a second valve 34having an operating lever 35.

Thus it will be seen that the tube 22 withinthe pot 4 may be placed incommunication with a source of vacuum or a source of pressure, asdesired, to accomplish'purposes here-.

" in after specified.

,ously adhering to any hot material.

The tube also is provided with means by which it may be raised orlowered within the pot to vary the distance of the lower end from theoutlet 20 of the pot. To this end a forked lever 36 is provided, whichis pivotall mounted on a movable fulcrum 37, said fulcrum point beingsupported on an arm 38 pivoted at 39 on a fixed bracket 40 secured tothe framework 9. This fulcrum-arm 38 has an extension 41 provided withan arcuate slot 42 engaging a bolt and lock-nut 43 by which thefulcrum-arm 38, the fulcrum 37 and the lever 36 may be held adjusted indifferent fixed,

positions, The outer end of the lever 36 is pivotally connected at 44with a rod 45, whlch rod is provided at its lower end with an eccentricstrap 46 engaging an eccentrlc 47 mountedon a shaft 48. The shaft 48 maybe rotated from any desired source of power. Thus it will be seen thatupon rotation of the shaft 48, the tube 22 may be raised or l 0weredintermittently through the connections specified. The connection 44 isscrew-threaded upon the vertical rod 45 and the posltion of theconnection upon the rodis fixed by means of a lock nut 45. Thisarrangement provides a means for adjusting the degree of verticalmovement of the tube 22 in additlon to the adjustment provided by thearm 38.

The'purposes and mode of operationof th 1s apparatus are to a largeextent descrlbed 1n my Patent No. 1,315,668, Sept. 9, 1919, abovereferred to.

At temperatures necessary for working,

molten glass is a stiff viscous fluid ten e flow starts by forming ahalf-globular drop at the orifice of the vessel; next, its-adhesion tothe edges of the orifice causes the drop to pull downward at the center,usually forming a drop, the upper end of which adheres to the orificeand the center pulls away to a small stream of thread and thisattenuated condition remains constant. Glass resembles all other viscousliquids in this respect, but

shows a very great contraction in area of' stream.

If the head or level of the glass in the supply reservoir be increasedor more pressure applied to the surface of the glass, this contractionbelow the orifice will be reduced. This is due to the fact that theadherence to the edge of the orifice is much greater than the tension ofthe glass particles to each other, and greater pressure forces moreglass through the center of the drop without increasing to anygreatdegree the flow at the edges or outer sides of the drop.Conversely, by decreasing pressure on the head or level of the glass,contraction of the stream is increased, and by varying the rate of flow,it is possible to so expand or contract the section of stream near theorifice as to make it resemble within narrow limits, a predeterminedform. Also by cutting off the globule of glass close to the orifice thecontracted section (or the tail part above the shears) will be drawn upinto the half globular drop at the orifice byreason of the law that adrop of any fluid tends to assume a globular form up to the disruptingpoint, and corrects any deviation of form by drawing to it the distortedpart by molecular attraction of its particles. This forms independentmasses without supporting the stream on the shears or other coldmembers.

In the method employed in carrying out my invention, no forces operateupon the glass in its line of flow from the tank or other source ofsupply to the discharge opening, but instead forces act upon the glassat or beyond the orifice, and act in such a way as to accelerate thenormal flow and not to stop it, so that by varying the amount of theseforces, variation in the normal rate of flow is obtained.

This acceleration at or beyond the, orifice is produced by the force oftension among the particles of the glass, and is applied. after theglass leaves the orifice. This force of tension is very great in thickviscous liquids, such as glass at working temperature.

The force of varying pressure is applied to the drop after it is formedand is used to correct the shape of the globule independent of the forceof gravity, which is the sole force which ordinarily acts to shape thedrop at or after it has passed theopening.

Figs. 3 to 7 illustrate in detail the general operation of theapparatus, in so far as it concerns the flow of the glass from the potin the forming of the gather or gob, and also show the control of theformation of the gather or gob.

Assuming'that the pot 4 contains glass at the proper level for theoperation of the apparatus, as shown, for example, in Fig. 1, and agather or gob is about to be formed, the tube or pipe 22 is in theposition indicated in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6, and the shears, which areindicated diagrammatically at 49, are open. With the parts in thisposition, the tube 22 forms-with the walls of the pot-opening 20 adischarge orifice, which is clearly shown at 50. At this point, I desireto draw attention to the clear distinction whichl make between theopening 20 of the pot and what I here term as my discharge orifice, orthat passage for the molten glass where the glass after passing theorifice 50 is relieved of the pressures due to head or gravityinfluences of the mass of glass within the pot. This distinction must beclearly borne in mind in reading the following description of theoperation of the apparatus, the term outlet on the one hand, referringtothe opening 20 in the bottom of the pot; and the term orifice, referringto the passage 50 between the lower end of the tube 22 and the walls ofthe cavity or well above the pot-opening 20.

Also, I make a distinction between this orifice 50 and the opening orpassage 22 in the tube 22, which opening 22, like the potopening 20,does not affect the glass until after it has passed the orifice 50, butmerely directs the course of the glass after it has left the passage 50.

In the ordinary operation of the device, the tube 22 may be in theposition shown, for example, in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6 and even slightlyabove the bottom of the pot; or, on the other hand, this tube may, ifdesired, project down to a point beyond the lower end of thepot-opening, as shown in Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive. In either case, themode of operation of the device is substantially the same. When Vacuumor suction is applied through the tube 22, the glass is drawn up insidethe tube, as shown at 52 in Figs. 1, 3, and 13.

It is to be understood that the relative diameter of the opening 20 andof the pipe 22 are such that the sucking-up action into the pipe 22cannot and does not stop normal flow of the glass down through theorifice 50 be-' tween the walls of said opening 20 and the walls of thepipe 22. In other words, the parts are so proportioned that no matterhow rapidly glass may be sucked up into the pipe 22, this has notendency to check or retard the flow of the glass down through theorifice 50. On the contrary, the only effect which sucking-up of theglass into the pipe 22 may have is that flow of the glass out throughthe orifice 50, as distinguished fromthe potopening 20, may be therebyaccelerated, but it is never checked. It will be obvious that thiscondition of acceleration of the flow ofglass down through the orificecaused by the suction in the pipe 22 will take place both when thepipeis slightly elevated above the opening 20, or even though the pipeis depressed below the opening 20. With the parts properly proportioned,it is clear that the sucking-up action of the pipe 22 may take place insuch way as simply to cause the acceleration of fio-w between the edgeof the pipe and the edge of the pot-opening.

In using this apparatus, the glass flowing down through the orificefirst assumes the more orless globular shape, shown at 53, Fig. 9. Atthe same time that this initial flow takes place, a certain amount ofglass may be drawn up into the tube 22, as shown at 54, Fig. 9. Then, asthe flow continues out through the orifice 50, and when the globule 53elongates, as at 55, Fig. 10, and thereby tends to become attenuated orthin, the glass in the tube 22 may be forced out as shown at 56, Fig.10, to fill in the center of the globule and cause the globule to assumesubstantially the form shown at 55, Fig. 10. Continued expulsion of theglass from the pipe 22, as illustrated at 57 in Figs. 5 and 11, causesthe globule to maintain substantially a uniform diameter, as shown atsuch points 57 in Figs. 5 and 11, so that we then have a mass of glassready for discharge into a mold or the like, which is 'of substantiallyuniform diameter and of practically predetermined shape and mass.

When, now, it is desired to cut ofi' this freely-hanging globule todeposit the same in the mold, the sucking action into the tube 22 may beresumed, as shown at 58 in Fig. 12, and it may be made sufficientlyrapid to cause a decided contraction in the globule at the point 59,Fig. 12. It will be understood, however, that the flow of the glass downthrough the orifice 50 has not thus been checked, but after the glasshad passed into and partially out of the orifice 50, it is drawn up intothe tube 22, instead of being supplied to the completed globule 60. Theglobule is then cut oif at the point 59 in the ordinary manner, as shownat 61, Fig. 6, by means of the shears 49. At this stage of theproceedings, one of the principal advantages of this invention comesinto play which is the taking care of the chilled part of the globude,which is-cut ofi by the cutting shears. This chilled part is indicatedas located at the point 62, Figs. 3, 6, and 13.

t is obvious that the sucking action of thetube 22 draws upon theglassafter it is flowed down past the lower end of said tube 22, and anyof the glass which lies below the lower end of this tube tends to besucked up into the tube under the action of the vacuum. This action,therefore, is illustrated in Figs. 3, 6 and 13, in which it is seen thatthe lower end of the globule, which follows the one cut ofi, tends to bedrawn up into the tube 22 and, therefore, the chilled portion 62 of thefollowing globule, which was that part which contacted with the shearswhen the first globule was cut off, is drawn up into the tube 22; but,as the time, the glass continues'to flow from the orifice of the vesseldown and around the lower end of the tube 22 and, consequently, thisfresh-flowing hot glass completely surrounds and incorporates thechilled part 62 into the center of its mass, or else so stretches andkneads this chilled part as to distribute or stretch it over that partof the surface of the drop removed from the point of the drop. By thisstretching action, this chilled part is re-heated by the body of theglass. Thus when the second globule is formed, and the glass is againexpelled from the tube 22, this chilled portion will likewise beexpelled into the center of the mass of the forming globuleorstretchover it, and will become assimilated and incorporated in it insuch a way that it will not detrimentally affect the homogeneity of theglass in said globule.

In extremely large gathers or where the glass becomes quite stifi', asmall flame can e directed against the suspended ather 57 so that thepoint of the gather can e slight,-

celerated beyond the normal rate at will, it

cannot be checked to a point below the normal rate of flow.

By increasing the speed of the glass, either when rising or falling inthe tube 22, a method is rovided for increasing the normal rate oi flowand for thus providing a regulating means for equalizing variations dueto changes of temperature in the glass, both of which would affect thenormal flow from the reservoir out through the orifice.

It will be understood that the varying of the suction or pressure withinthe pipe or tube 22 is efiected by the properly timed operations of thevalves 30 and 34 of the pipes 29 and 33, respectively. For this purposethe operating lever 31 of the valve 30 is connected to a rod 68, whichhas at its lower end an anti-friction roller 69 hearing on a cam 70. Therod 68 passes through a guide-sleeve 71, and has surrounding it belowsaid guidesleeve a spring 72, which holds the anti-fric tion roller 69in contact with the cam 70. The operating-lever 35 of the valve 34 isconnected by a rod 73 in a similar manner with a second cam 74', and isheld in contact therewith in the same way, the cams and 74 being fixedon the shaft 48. As this shaft rotates, therefore, the communicationwith the source of vacuum and the source of pressure will be roperlytimed for the operations intende It is to be understood also that theshears 49 are operatively connected with actuating mechanism so thatsaid shears will be oper ated in synchronism with the forming of thedrop or gob, and will cut oil the gobs in proper succession and atproper times determined by the forming of the gob, which is, in thiscase, under the control of the operator; that isto say, gobs of greateror less length may be formed, and in other respects the character of thegob may be varied to suit the particular purpose for which it is to beused.

Now referring to the raising and lowering of the second tube or pipe 22,its raised position is indicated in'Fig. 4 of the drawings. This raisingand lowering is controlled by the lever 36, and its operating mechanismheretofore described.

It is to be understood that this raising and lowering of the tube is notintended for the purposes of disposing of the chilled spot on the gob,but it is to be employed in the firstplace for the delaying of theformation of p the gob, which is accomplished by raising the tube; and,second, for adding to the acceleration of the glass to form in someinstances a larger gob through the same diameter of potopening; that isto say, in lowering the tube.

n any event, however, it is to be understood that the sucking-up of thechilled part of the gob is first performed by the sucking action of thistube when in its lowermost position as that is the effective positionfor this action. In order that the pipe may always assume its mosteffective lower position, but at the same time, in order that the travelof the tube may be increased or diminished as desired, I provide themovable fulcrum 37 for the lever 36,it being understood that in anyadjusted position of this fulcrum, the tube will always seekapproximately the same lowermost position with respect to the bottom ofthe pot, but its travel may be increased or diminished by suchadjustment. Therefore, in employing this up-and-down movement of thetube 'as an adjunct to its normal action in accelerating the feed of theglass, it is first held at its lowered position after a gob has been cut0E to suck up the chilled portion of the following gob. This suckingaction also retards the formation of the following gob, whichretardation is increased by then raising the tube. It will be noted atthis point that the raising of the tube has increased what was formerlythe orifice, and allowed for a greater flow of glass through the openingin the bottom of the pot. When the retardation period has extended forthe desired time, the tube is again lowered and in so lowering, itaccelerates the fiow of the glass out through the opening in the bottomof the pot. When the tube is in'its'lower position, expulsion of theglass within the tube again fills the middle or body of the gob asheretofore described. This function of the tube 22 may be eflectivelyemployed in the forming of unusually large gobs for the fabrication oflarge articles, but it is to be understood that such up and downmovement of the tube may be also employed efi'ectively in the formationof small articles, the extent of travel of the tube being determined tosome extent by the size of the article to be fabricated.

The travel of this tube has the further function that when thetemperature of the glass in the vessel falls for any reason, and theglass becomes more viscous, the downward movement of the tube assists inthe expulsion of the glass through the opening in. the bottom of thepot, thus compensating for the cooling and consequent less workablecondition of the glass by the vacuum and pressure action of the tube,and this effectiveness of the travel of the tube increases as the glassbecomes colder. Conversely, as the glass slowly resumes a highertemperature, it follows that this plunger action of the tube becomesless effective in the more fluid glass, while at the same time, thesuction and pressure action within the tube become the more effective onthe more fluid or hotter glass; therefore, it will be seen that thetravel of the tube and vacuum and pressure action within the tubepractically stabilize each other in their ultimate effect.

In Fig. 14 is shown a modified form of the apparatus using the sameprinciple, but in this case the auxiliary member or pipe takes the formof a laterally-extending passage 63, formed in an offset 64 of thereservoir or pot 4, and connected by a passage 65 with the source ofvacuum. The lower end 66 of this auxiliary passage adjoins that of theorifice 50 from the tank4. In this case, the auxiliary member or passage63 takes the glass from and adds it again to the sides of the dropinstead of feeding it directly to the center, but the chilled spotcaused by the shearing-off of the previous drop is effectivelyincorparated into the mass of the following mass or globule, and isfurther removed from the lower end of the globule, which is the criticallocation when feeding the glass to a mold.

In Fig. 8 is shown another modified form of the apparatus using the sameprinciple, but in this case the auxiliary member or pipe takes the formof a lateral horizontal passage 66, which is mounted just below theorifice 50 in the bottom of the vessel 4. This passage 66 communicateswith a suction-tube 67 connected with any suitable source ofpressure-varying or suction means. In other respects, however, theoperation of this modified apparatus is precisely the same as thatheretofore described.

It is to be noted that the pot 4 here shown is in communication with theheat of the gases of the tank 1 through the passage or opening 2. Shouldit be necessary, however, to add additional heat to the interior of thepot, the same may be done by introducing a suitable source of flame orheat through an, opening, such, for example, as the opening 75, Fig. 1.

The invention herein described is not limited as regards the broad termsof the claims to any particular construction or arrangement ofmechanical devices, whereby the rate of flow or shape of the drop areaffected by forces acting on the glass at or outside the 7 can beincreased by force acting on the flow at or after it leaves the outlet;and, second,-that the section of the stream or shape of the globule canbe varied without stopping or reversing the normal flow from the supplyreservoir in the discharge opening, and Without varying either thepressure upon or height of the surface level of the glass in any part ofthe supply reservoir. On the contrary, the entire action takes Iplace onthe glass after it has flowed slightly eyond the-mass of glass in thecontainer and the force applied to the flowin glass is expended entirelyon the glass a ter it has passed beyond the influence of the glass inthe container.

While I have herein described particular forms of apparatus by which myinvention may be carried out, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited in any manner to such particular apparatus, but that theapparatus for and the method of carrying out the invention may be variedto any desired extent within the scope of the appended claims.

This application is a division of my copending application for LettersPatent, filed July 16, 1917, Serial No. 180,795.

What I claim is:

1. A container for a. pool of molten glass, said container beingprovided with a bottom opening, a plunger, ,an actuator for the plungermounted independently of the container, for giving the plunger a cycleof movement, and means for shifting the container to vary the clearanceof the plunger in its cycle of movement as to container opening.

2. A container for a pool of molten glass, said container being providedwith a bottom opening, a plunger co-acting with said opening, means forshifting the container openlng toward and from said plunger, and anactuator providing a cycle of movement for the plunger as to thecontainer.

3. A container for a pool of molten glass, said container being providedwith a bottom opening, a plunger coacting with said opening, anadjustable mounting for the container, and an actuator providing a cycleof movement for the plunger as to the container.

4:. A container for a pool of molten glass, said container beingprovided with a bottom opening, a lunger co-acting with said opening, ana justable mounting for the container, a molten glass supply, means foradjusting the container as to said supply, and an actuator providing acycle of movement for the plunger as to the container.

5. A container for a pool of molten glass,

. said container being provided with a bottom opening, a plungerco-acting with said opening, an adjustable mounting for the container, amolten glass supply, a spout from said supply to said container, meansfor adjusting the container as to said supply, and an actuator providinga cycle of movement for the plunger as to the container.

6. A container for a pool of molten glass, said container being providedwith a bottom opening and a side opening, a plunger coacting with saidbottom opening, a spout extending into said side opening, means foradjusting the container as to said spout, and an actuator providing acycle of movement for the plunger as to the container.

7. A glass supply, a spouttherefrom, uide means adjacent said spout, acontainer 0 boot type having a discharge opening coacting with saidguide .means, means for shifting the container as to said guide means,and a plunger adjacent said opening having a cycle of movement as to thecontainer and spout.

8. The method of controlling the flow through a submerged orifice,-whichconsists in accumulating a charge of molten material from a batchlocated above the orifice by occasioning a flow through the batch awayfrom the orifice, .in moving the accumulated charge bodily toward theflOWOIifiCG and in discharging it through the flow orifice.

9. The method of controlling the fiow through a submerged flow orifice,which consists in accumulating a quota of molten material from a batchof the same while bodily moving the accumulating quota through the batchand away from'the orifice,-and then in bodily moving the accumulatedquota toward the orifice and discharging material therefrom through theorifice.

10. The method of controlling the flow of molten glass through asubmerged flow orifice, which consists in accumulating a determinedquota of molten glass from a batch lo cated above the orifice whilemoving the accumulating quota bodily away from the orifice, then inmoving the accumulated quota bodily toward the orifice and in augmentingthe flow through the orifice by discharging glass from the quotatherethrough.

11. The method of controlling the flow of molten glass througha-submerged flow orifice, which consists in accumulating a quota ofmolten glass from a batch located above the fiow orifice while movingthe accumulating quota bodily away from the orifice, then in moving theaccumulated quota bodily toward the orifice and simultaneously ejectingglass from the batch through the orifice, augmenting the flow throughthe orifice by discharging glass from the quota therethrough.

12. The methodof controlling the flow of molten glass, through asubmerged flow orifice which consists in accumulating a determined quotaof glass abovethe flow orifice from a batch located above the orifice,moving an accumulating element through the batch toward the flow orificewhile maintaining the accumulated quota in open communication with the,batch and in augmenting the flow through,the orifice by dischargingglass from the quota therethrough.

13. The method of controlling the flow of molten glass from a mass ofmolten glass located above a flow orifice submerged by said mass, whichconsists in accumulating a quota of lass from said mass and above saidflow orifice, and moving the accumulated quota toward said orifice whilesubstantially confining the efiect of the moving force to said quota,and then in discharging glass from said quota through said orifice underthe influence of said moving force.

14. The method of delivering mold charges of molten glass from areceptacle containing a body of molten glass and provided with a floworifice which consists in accumulating a quota of glass within the bodyand above the orifice, moving the accumulated quota through the bodytoward the'flow orifice and then in discharging glass from the quotathrough the orifice.

15. The method of controlling the flow through a submerged orifice,which consists in accumulatin a charge of molten material of determinedsize by occasioning a flow within a batch of molten material away fromthe orifice, in moving the accumulated quota bodily through the batchand in discharging it through the orifice.

16. The method of controlling the flow of molten glass through asubmerged flow orifice, which consists in accumulating a quota of moltenglass from a batch located above the orifice, then in bodil moving theaccumulated quota through t e batch and simultaneously mechanicallyejecting glass from the batch through the orifice, and in augmenting theflow through the orifice by discharging glass from said quotatherethrough.

17. The method of controlling the flow of molten glass through a floworifice which consists in accumulating a charge, of molten glass in anaccumulating element above the flow orifice, moving said accumulatedcharge toward the flow orifice and discharging glass therefrom throughsaid orifice.

18. In a glass feeding apparatus, the combination with a tank or othermelting furnace, of a vertically adjustable and normally stationarycontainer having an aperture for discharging molten glass, a s1phonmember connecting said tank and said receptacle for maintaining theglass in the said tank and 1n said receptacle at approximately the samelevel, and means efi'ective adJacent the aperture for controlling thedischarge of glass through the aperture.

In testimony whereof I, the said GEORGE E.

HOWARD, have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE E. HOWARD.

